US eyeing lucrative Indian defence market
With an eye on India’s US$ 100 Billion defence market over the next decade, the US administration has made a smart move to enter into an understanding with Indian defence establishment on joint development and production of weapon systems, a route undertaken by the Russians and the Israelis long back to remain engaged with the Indian armed forces for meeting their requirements in an extremely competitive arms market.
The visit of the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Washington DC last month, has produced a US-India joint declaration on defence cooperation, which will make easier the transfer of US defence technology under the garb of joint development of weapon systems.
The American administration used to impose toughest domestic legislations on dual use defence technology transfer to countries like India but the latest declaration on defence cooperation with India seems to be exceptional and unique in nature as US has not entered into such defence cooperation with non NATO partners.
The Pentagon lost no time in submitting a list of ten weapons systems and platforms which can be jointly produced with India. These may include the Javelin anti tank missiles, the M-777 ultra light weight Howitzers and the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft.
Tough competition
Indian armed forces need these weapon systems in large numbers and if India agrees for their further capability improvement and joi